Should cats do Pilates?
I know Ursula the British Shorthair is keen on Pilates. But is it good for her? Should cats do Pilates? Are there associated health hazards? To mention only the obvious ones, might 3 hours of Pilates per week trigger arthritis, anxiety, cat flu, alopaecia, hypertension or psoriasis? Might it hasten catopause?
My cat sits on the mat five minutes before the online class begins.
The cat sat on the mat ready for online Pilates.
Ursula sees her role not as a fellow student but as my supervisor. In the photo below she critiques my breathing and wills me to relax my shoulders as I do the bridge.
Ursula monitors my bridge technique
Of course I appreciate her help, even when her own technique is, well, not always perfect. However, Pilates is designed for human metabolism and biped anatomy, and this practice may be causing her actual harm. As her brow-beaten owner I need to know whether to permit this activity: because should cats do Pilates, or not? Am I overthinking?
Please advise. My motives are impeccable: my only concern is for Ursula’s well being. By assisting me she puts herself at great risk of being squashed, and we wouldn’t want that, would we?
Ursula assists me to maintain proper plank position at great risk to herself
Mine prefers Zumba….
Danger cat!
😉
As long as it is a supervisory role only nothing catastrophic will happen.
I see what you mean. She does assist with a nudge and a demon. But perhaps I’m the one in danger.
As usual, I think Ursula knows her stuff! 🙂
She is adorable.
I have no opinion on a cat doing pilates, but I enjoyed reading of Ursula’s role in your life.
I won’t tell her that because it will only go to her head
She is on the mat five minutes before the class begins…hmm. Is she thinking, ‘Should humans do pilates? I’d better supervise’?
Oh. I’d better reframe. All this anthropmorphising can go off target. Thanks Anne.
She definitely dislikes the whole idea as her facial expression shows. She is afraid she might get crushed as you come down from the plank.
Not afraid enough. She sits there on purpose.
Ha! Daring you to stay in a plank no doubt.
I think EVERYONE should do Pilates 💪🏼💪🏼
I am alarmed by your post. A planked Ursula? no-no-no-. May I respectfully suggest we are approach the conundrum from another point of view, viz. the feline perspective. Thus the question rephrased: Should humans do Pilates and more specifically, Cat Staff?
Indeed. Whatever was I thinking?